Will haggis soon be legal in America?

Haggis, the famous Scottish dish that consists of the heart, liver and lungs of sheep minced with onion, oatmeal and seasoning, may soon be legal in the United States.

Britain’s environment secretary, Owen Paterson, was due to meet today with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to discuss lifting the ban on haggis’ key ingredients.

Sheep lung was banned in the United States back in 1971, and all British lamb was banned after 1989 following the “mad cow disease” crisis. However, the ban on U.K. beef exports was lifted earlier this year.

Sky News reports that Paterson is hoping that the U.S. can lift its ban as part of negotiations toward a trade deal between the U.S. and the European Union that could be worth $17 billion to the British economy.

“I share many haggis producers’ disappointment that American diners are currently unable to enjoy the taste of Scotland’s wonderful national dish in their own country,” Paterson said recently. “”I am meeting my U.S. counterpart today to discuss how we can begin exporting it, particularly as so many Americans enjoy celebrating their Scottish heritage.”